Rare winner's medal issued to Cuban long jumper Iván Pedroso at the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics. Gilt silver, 68 mm, 188 gm, by Wojciech Pietranik and Brian Thompson; manufactured by the Royal Australian Mint. The front depicts a 'Seated Victory' with the Colosseum in the background; the reverse portrays the Olympic rings over the iconic Sydney Opera House, with the Sydney Olympic torch at right, inscribed below the rings with the athlete's name, and "Athletics / Men's Long Jump" in the upper and lower rim. Complete with the original blue ribbon embroidered in silver with the legend, "Sydney 2000," which is detached at center but could be resewn. Also includes the original round case with metal base and hinged plastic cover. Medal features some instances of scratching, scuffing, and tarnishing.
A longtime rival of Carl Lewis in the long jump event, Iván Pedroso was a four-time world champion and a five-time world indoor champion. This gold medal represents his sole Olympic victory: he had finished in fourth-place at Barcelona in 1992, and injuries contributed to a twelfth-place finish in Atlanta in 1996. Pedroso was considered the best long jumper in the world from 1995 to 2002.
